Local luminaries appointed to Order of Canada
Artists, politicians, philanthropists among those inducted in 2015
Atotal of 69 Canadians are to be honoured this year with one of the country’s highest accolades — an appointment to the Order of Canada. They join more than 6,000 remarkable people honoured since 1967, including author Margaret Atwood, singer Leonard Cohen and humanitarian Terry Fox. Here’s a look at a few of this year’s Toronto additions.
Atom Egoyan Companion of the Order of Canada 2015 was a big year for this director, who debuted Remember, a thriller starring Christopher Plummer as a nursing home resident seeking revenge for the murder of his family decades ago. It has garnered rave reviews, as did his previous films Ararat, Chloe and Devil’s Knot. In addition to putting a spotlight on Canadian talent, Egoyan has taught at Ryerson University.
Fun fact: In 1991, Egoyan’s film The Adjuster nabbed a best Canadian film prize that came with a $25,000 award. Instead of enjoying the reward himself, he gave the prize money to The Grocer’s Wife director John Pozer, as another director had done for Egoyan years before.
Barbara Hall Member of the Order of Canada This former Toronto mayor is a community activist and lawyer who, before her city hall tenure, defended gay men arrested in the 1981 bathhouse raids. In 2005, she became chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, taking aim at racist attacks against Asian Canadian fishers and drawing up guidelines to ensure people with disabilities related to mental health and addiction don’t face employment or housing discrimination.
Fun fact: Hall recently authored a report commissioned by the Toronto District School Board, critical of how the board is run. It touched on scandals involving staff, the director and trustees, amid accusations of harassment, bullying and insubordination.
Rohinton Mistry Member of the Order of Canada This author may be Canadian, but when he puts pen to paper, he often pays homage to his birthplace, India. His short stories, Tales from Firozsha Baag, and novels — Such a Long Journey, A Fine Balance and Family Matters — have been lauded by many and bestowed with accolades such as a Governor General’s Award, a Giller Prize and a Man Booker International Prize nomination.
Fun fact: Mistry’s A Fine Balance was Oprah’s Book Club choice in November 2001. In a review, Oprah said, “I’ve never encountered pages that took me so far and removed me from my own way of life and way of thinking the way A Fine Balance did.”
Frances Alice Shepherd Officer of the Order of Canada In Ontario, few have devoted as much time over the past few decades to lung cancer research as this doctor, who is said to have been an inves- tigator in more than 100 clinical trials and co-authored dozens of medical journal articles. Her work has helped establish lung cancer tumour banks and has significantly advanced therapy for cancer patients.
Fun fact: More than 30 post-doctoral research fellows from around the globe consider Shepherd a mentor.
Meric Gertler Member of the Order of Canada This geographer with experience advising the European Union doubles as president of the University of Toronto. Even before starting the university gig, he recommended the province arrange special funding to help cover high research costs at U of T.
Now that he’s settled in, he’s been looking to solve students’ commuter issues and increase private-public partnerships at the university.
Fun fact: When Gertler became the head of U of T, he moved into the president’s residency on Highland Ave. in Rosedale. It sits on a bluff overlooking a sprawling ravine and
flies a U of T flag out front.
Helen Vari Member of the Order of Canada Like her late husband (Hungarianborn real estate magnate George Vari), this philanthropist has long had a soft spot for education. The University of Toronto, Ryerson University and York University have benefitted from donations the Varis bestowed through their foundation, for constructing facilities and providing scholarships. Another beneficiary has been Princess Margaret Hospital.
Fun fact: After a 2001 hurricane ripped through Paris, destroying forests, the Varis donated 3,000 Canadian sugar maples to France.
Kent Roach Member of the Order of Canada This University of Toronto professor is a former law clerk to a Supreme Court justice and an author of 12 books on the legal system and antiterrorism. In March, he and academic Craig Forcese launched a scathing attack on Bill C-51 — the anti-terror- ism bill introduced by Stephen Harper that would expand the government spy agency’s powers.
Fun fact: Roach served as research director for an inquiry into the bombing of Air India Flight 182 and was on an advisory committee that prepared an inquiry into the Maher Arar case.
George Baird Member of the Order of Canada Ever visited the Burlington Waterfront Centre, the University of Toronto’s Erindale Hall or the Niagara Parks Butterfly Conservatory? If so, chances are you’ve admired the open-concept spaces, embellished with wood accents and sculpted hallways. But you might not have known Baird’s architectural firm was behind their design. Baird has left his stamp on the country with innovative designs that have won Governor General’s Awards.
Fun fact: Baird’s business is also behind the Cloud Gardens Park at Yonge and Richmond Sts. It features a greenhouse growing ferns, palms and exotic plants.